Bundesliga season preview: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

Summary

Hoffenheim finished last season in 15th, place above the drop zone.

Nagelsmann wants nothing to do with relegation this term.

Wagner, Vargas and Kramaric to shoulder goalscoring responsibilities.

With not long until the 2016/17 Bundesliga season gets under way, it is high time to put each club's upcoming campaign under the microscope. bundesliga.com's previews will provide you with all you need to know ahead of the big kick-off on 26 August…

Big question

The main question for those of a Hoffenheim persuasion is whether young coach Julian Nagelsmann can continue the phenomenal success he enjoyed after taking over last season. The 29-year-old led the club to safety with plenty to spare and he has already made it clear that he will not countenance having to do the same again this season. "Of course we don't want to be relegated, but I'm not going to say that because that's not setting a target," he said recently.

Watch: Hoffenheim's Sebastian Rudy answers some quickfire questions

"I'm not going to accept 13th, 14th or 15th happily. I want as much success as possible, and that would be the title - although anyone with a bit of sense knows that'll be pretty tough. So far my tenure has been about picking up points, not so much about the development of the team. Now I can focus on that, and by doing this we will be more successful. We want to dominate the opposition more."

Coach

The youngest ever Bundesliga coach, Nagelsmann – now 29 – was only 28 when he took the first-team reins in February 2016. Having kept Die Kraichgauer up in plenty of time, all the while playing an attacking, entertaining brand of football, the former defender will now turn his attention to a top-half finish this season.

Key man

Eduardo Vargas offered a timely reminder of his talent by finishing top scorer with six goals as Chile won the Copa America Centenario this summer. Although he would have expected more from his first season in Germany, the versatile 26-year-old former SSC Napoli forward has more than enough talent to make the step up and fill the goalscoring boots of the departed Volland this term.